Enzo Ferrari was born in Modena, Italy in 1898. He began his automotive career as a racing driver for Alfa Romeo in the 1920s and later managed Alfa Romeo's racing team through a subsidiary called Scuderia Ferrari, which he founded in 1929. In 1939, Enzo Ferrari left Alfa Romeo following a dispute over control of the racing program and established Auto Avio Costruzioni in Maranello, initially producing machine tools and aircraft accessories under a non-compete agreement with Alfa Romeo.
The first car to bear the Ferrari name was the 125 S, a 1.5-liter V12 sports racing car that competed in its first race in May 1947. This date is generally regarded as the founding of Ferrari as an automotive manufacturer, though the company's formal corporate history traces to 1939. The 125 S established the V12 engine configuration that would become a defining characteristic of Ferrari's most prestigious models.
Throughout the 1950s, Ferrari built its reputation through motorsport success, winning multiple Formula 1 World Championships and victories at Le Mans and other endurance races. The company's racing success drove demand for its road cars, which were sold primarily to wealthy enthusiasts in Europe and North America.
In 1969, facing financial difficulties, Enzo Ferrari sold a 50% stake in Ferrari to Fiat S.p.A. for an undisclosed sum. The agreement gave Fiat control of Ferrari's road car operations while Enzo Ferrari retained control of the racing division. Fiat subsequently increased its stake to 90% while Enzo Ferrari retained 10%. This arrangement allowed Ferrari to access Fiat's manufacturing resources and financial stability while maintaining its engineering independence.
Enzo Ferrari died in August 1988 at the age of 90. Following his death, Fiat assumed full ownership of Ferrari. Under Fiat's ownership, Ferrari continued to develop iconic models including the F40, F50, Enzo, and LaFerrari, each representing the technological pinnacle of the company's capabilities at the time of their introduction.
In 2014, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA), the successor entity to Fiat, announced plans to separate Ferrari from the group. Ferrari N.V. was incorporated in the Netherlands as a holding company, and in October 2015, FCA distributed approximately 80% of Ferrari N.V. shares to FCA shareholders. Ferrari N.V. completed its initial public offering on the New York Stock Exchange in October 2015, listing under ticker RACE at an initial price of 52 US dollars per share. A secondary listing on the Milan Stock Exchange followed.
Following the IPO, Exor N.V., the holding company of the Agnelli family, became Ferrari's largest shareholder. Piero Ferrari, the son of Enzo Ferrari, retained a 10% stake in the company, a position he continues to hold as of 2026.
In 2022, Ferrari launched the Purosangue, its first four-door, four-seat vehicle, marking a significant departure from the company's traditional two-seat sports car focus. The Purosangue is not classified as an SUV by Ferrari, though it shares some characteristics with the segment. The model generated substantial demand and has become one of Ferrari's highest-revenue models.
In 2025, Ferrari reported full-year net revenues of approximately 7.15 billion euros, up 7% year-over-year, with EBIT of approximately 2.11 billion euros, up 12%, and industrial free cash flow surging nearly 50% compared to the prior year. The company also announced a partnership with IBM as Premium Partner of Scuderia Ferrari, effective January 2025.